The Last of Us (2023) HBO Max series spoiler free review
“When you’re lost in the darkness look for the light”. The first season of the tv adaptation of the 2013 action-adventure video game The Las of Us came to an end this Sunday March 12, 2023. A second season has been confirmed that will adapt the second game The Last of Us Part 2 continuing Joel and Ellie’s journey. Since its premiere the series has received a positive response from the critics and the audience being called the best adaptation of a video game.
After a global pandemic destroys civilization, a hardened survivor takes charge of a 14-year-old girl who may be humanity’s last hope.
Series synopsis
The cast includes Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian) as Joel Miller, Bella Ramsay (Game of Thrones) as Ellie Williams, Anna Torv (Mindhunter) as Theresa ‘Tess’ Servopoulos, Nico Parker (Dumbo) as Sarah, John Hannah as Dr. Newman, Merle Dandridge (The Last of Us video game) as Marlene, Gabriel Luna (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Tommy, and Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) as Bill.
All Episodes
- When You’re Lost in the Darkness
- Infected
- Long, Long Time
- Please Hold My Hand
- Endure and Survive
- Kin
- Left Behind
- When We Are in Need
- Look for the Light
My opinion
As someone who hasn’t play the video game but enjoys post apocalyptic stories I was intrigued to see what HBO would deliver with this adaptation. From the first episode I was hook, excitingly waiting for Sunday nights to arrive anxious to know what would happen next. To avoid spoilers I didn’t look for similarities between the game and the series but after the season finale. It’s impressive how much they were able to bring to the series even after leaving aside some parts of the story, something that basically happens with any adaptation.
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay work perfectly together, making the story feel believable without falling into a melodrama. As the viewer is easy to empathize with not only Joel and Ellie but other characters like Bill, portrayed by Nick Offerman, and his heartbreaking but beautiful story. The clickers, the third stage of the infected in, are scary creatures by themselves but thanks to the makeup department led by Barrie Gower (Game of Thrones, Chernobyl, Stranger Things) they turn even more terrifying. The cinematography, soundtrack, storytelling, and acting make of this series more than just a video game adaptation but an impressive survival story with personal battles . The Last of Us joins the group good series created by HBO.
Stream the nine episodes now on HBO Max.